Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Si Se Puede! Illegal Immigrants Speak Up - And America Should Listen
The immigration debate has been hijacked by nasty jingoism in our nation's capitol. But now in great numbers, illegal immigrants and their supporters take to the street to protest the draconian bill that will turn the 12 million undocumented residents in the U.S. into felons. New America Media contributor Lydia Chávez is a professor at the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley and writes extensively about immigration.
Berkeley - At last, reality rears its lovely head.
For months, the immigration debate has been hijacked by some of the nastiest, most jingoistic and dumbest politicians around. In the name of national security, the House of Representatives passed a bill in December that will turn the 12 million undocumented residents of the United States into felons and build a Berlin-like wall between the United States and Mexico.
But finally last week, the immigrant tormenters got a look at the men, women and children who live without papers in places like Charlotte, Atlanta and Phoenix, but feel strongly enough about their adopted country and friends to take to the streets. In numbers that surprised organizers in Los Angeles, more than half a million immigrants and their allies marched against the House bill and offered a spirited celebration of immigration.
Their message was clear. Sen. Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, told reporters, "Immigrants want to work legally, drive legally, study legally." And, "Yes they can" or "Si se puede!", the marchers proclaimed on signs that bobbed among American, Mexican and other national flags.
The rallies offer yet more proof that that the punitive measures that some in Congress propose are completely out of touch with the reality of why we have 12 million undocumented people living within our borders and how they live in our midst.
While immigrant tormenters like the former California Governor Pete Wilson, Representative Tom Tancredo from Colorado and their allies on talk radio have spewed hate, American employers have opened their doors. Communities have too and in the last month, some have taken steps to declare their borders sanctuaries for the undocumented.
Read More
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=586ac53de976f4a0f6acebfc22eb8da7
For months, the immigration debate has been hijacked by some of the nastiest, most jingoistic and dumbest politicians around. In the name of national security, the House of Representatives passed a bill in December that will turn the 12 million undocumented residents of the United States into felons and build a Berlin-like wall between the United States and Mexico.
But finally last week, the immigrant tormenters got a look at the men, women and children who live without papers in places like Charlotte, Atlanta and Phoenix, but feel strongly enough about their adopted country and friends to take to the streets. In numbers that surprised organizers in Los Angeles, more than half a million immigrants and their allies marched against the House bill and offered a spirited celebration of immigration.
Their message was clear. Sen. Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, told reporters, "Immigrants want to work legally, drive legally, study legally." And, "Yes they can" or "Si se puede!", the marchers proclaimed on signs that bobbed among American, Mexican and other national flags.
The rallies offer yet more proof that that the punitive measures that some in Congress propose are completely out of touch with the reality of why we have 12 million undocumented people living within our borders and how they live in our midst.
While immigrant tormenters like the former California Governor Pete Wilson, Representative Tom Tancredo from Colorado and their allies on talk radio have spewed hate, American employers have opened their doors. Communities have too and in the last month, some have taken steps to declare their borders sanctuaries for the undocumented.
Read More
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=586ac53de976f4a0f6acebfc22eb8da7
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Yes, American employers have opened their doors. Why not? They are the true illegals in all of this. They hire people at whatever wage they want to pay, without benefits, without legal or employment right and people who are less likely to raise a stink if something illegal or wrong is done in the business. Also, this massive influx at wages which are not union, sometimes not even at minimum wage help destroy the basic benefits that the american labor movement has built. Why would the wealthy and powerful and business interests not want to destroy the power of the labor movement and to drive wages and benefits to their lowest possible levels.
I do not believe in criminalizing the people who have come here to work knowing there is work.But I do believe that US businesses and political leaders have criminally undermined american labor. I hope that all of the people who are here working "illegally" can become citizens or have worker rights and can then demand that compensation and benefits and rights be set at a higher standard. Eventually american businesses must be required to follow the law and only hire workers with legal rights to be here. That will stop the flow of immigration for work. People are coming here for jobs...who can blame them. People can still come here as they like, but eventually in the US there should be some rule of law or you might as well throw away worker rights, benefits and totally destroy the american middle class. The rich are going to take care of themselves. Why else have they betrayed the american working class by permitting outsourcing, offshoring, illegal hiring etc. There are a lot of issues here.
I do not believe in criminalizing the people who have come here to work knowing there is work.But I do believe that US businesses and political leaders have criminally undermined american labor. I hope that all of the people who are here working "illegally" can become citizens or have worker rights and can then demand that compensation and benefits and rights be set at a higher standard. Eventually american businesses must be required to follow the law and only hire workers with legal rights to be here. That will stop the flow of immigration for work. People are coming here for jobs...who can blame them. People can still come here as they like, but eventually in the US there should be some rule of law or you might as well throw away worker rights, benefits and totally destroy the american middle class. The rich are going to take care of themselves. Why else have they betrayed the american working class by permitting outsourcing, offshoring, illegal hiring etc. There are a lot of issues here.
Could Be Mexica Sir
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$205.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network